Protests against gas cuts show upward trend

SIALKOTHundreds of perturbed women along with their children again came on the roads for lodging strong protest against the prolonged loadshedding of gas .They held demonstration on main Sialkot-Sambrial-Wazirabad Road in Sambrial, and kept the traffic blocked for two hours by burning tyres there against the prolonged loadshedding of gas and shortage of the LPG. They were also carrying kitchen items and chanting slogans demanding early end to the gas loadshedding.The protesting women revealed that there was 18 to 20 hours loadshedding of gas for the domestic consumers in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Uggoki, Chawinda, Badiana, Pasrur and surrounding areas. While, the pressure of gas remains very low in the rest of time due to which they were unable to even prepare meals, the protesters said.The situation has been irking the consumers, especially the females, for the last one and half months. They said the situation had now become unbearable for them, as there was no gas , no LPG gas and no firewood to run their kitchens.PROJECT APPROVED: The Punjab government has finally approved Rs6.5 billion plan of expanding, widening, realignment and stone pitching of banks the of Nullah Dek to save the Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala districts from the floods in the future. The provincial government has also earmarked Rs6.5 billion for the project. The Gujranwala Division Commissioner disclosed this while presiding over a meeting of the district heads of various departments. Shamail Ahmed added that the project had been named as Flood Management Project, under which the Nullah Dek would be deepened and widened, while its 117 miles long banks would also be paved. H e said that the project would cost Rs6.5 billion, as several drains and bridges would be constructed along and over the nullah to ensure smooth flow of flood waters through it during the flood and rainy season.The construction work on this project would start at the end of running month under the supervision of the local elected representatives. He said that the Punjab government has also released a special grant of Rs90 million for paving the banks of local water channel near Sadhoki.